Gospel as Center: chapter 3

The title of this chapter is "The Gospel and Scripture" (i.e. how to read the Bible in light of the centrality of the Gospel).

• The Gospel causes revelation, and revelation causes the Gospel.
• The Gospel is God's planned purpose (intent) of redemption.
• Preaching the Bible performs this purpose (Romans 10:12-14).
• Convictions of our basis for reading:
• God-breathed - freedom from doubt and instability
• Understandable - we labor to study it because He reveals it to us.
• Useful - it works inasmuch as we believe and obey it.
• Effective - accomplishes every part of life and godliness.
• We are the ones judged by the Bible - no wiggling out from under this fact!
• Principles of interpretation:
• Christ is the subject of all Scripture (therefore Scripture interprets Scripture)
• The Holy Spirit guides us into understanding it (e.g. the road to Emmaus)
• Ways to read, shaking the tree of life for fruit*:
• "Along" - as historical narrative, the gospel storyline
• "Across" - as theology, Scripture interpreting Scripture.

* The quote I am referencing, from Martin Luther: "First I shake the whole Apple tree, that the ripest might fall. Then I climb the tree and shake each limb, and then each branch and then each twig, and then I look under each leaf."